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As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cities and states move toward full re-opening, many people are feeling re-entry anxiety鈥攁n uneasiness about returning to the old normal of schools and offices, hugs and handshakes, and social gatherings large and small.
Adam Mandel, PhD, psychologist at 嘿嘿视频 Psychiatry Associates and clinical instructor in the , says hesitating to take off the mask is perfectly normal. 鈥淎fter all, we鈥檝e been trained to fear the virus. And fear isn鈥檛 something that easily goes away,鈥 he says.
鈥淛ust as we got used to the masks, we鈥檒l adjust to life without them. I wasn鈥檛 this worried about walking outside without a mask a year and a half ago; the vast majority of us will be resilient. The vast majority of us will learn to feel comfortable again. But it鈥檚 going to take a little time,鈥 he continues.
There鈥檚 no right or wrong way to handle re-entry, but Dr. Mandel offers some advice: communicate your needs, go at your own pace, and think of the changes as a way to build resilience.
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